Association of Alberta

Sexual Assault Services

ANNUAL REPORT

2015-2016

Working Together for an Alberta Free From

Sexual Violence

Providing leadership, coordination, collaboration and a unified voice on issues of

sexual abuse and sexual assault.

Organizational Overview Page 4

AASAS Core Beliefs Page 5

AASAS Member Agencies/Services Page 6

Message from the Leadership Page 7

AASAS Highlights of 2015 — 2016 Pages 8-12

Show Your Support – AASAS Social Media Page 13

AASAS Funders Page 13

Northland Building

Suite 700, 910 7th Avenue SW

Calgary, Alberta T2P 3N8

Phone - 403.237.6905 ext. 3

Email - mailbox@aasas.ca

Website - www.aasas.ca

The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) is a non-profit, registered charitable organization that began operations in

1993. As a provincial umbrella organization, AASAS provides leadership, coordination, and a unified voice on issues of sexual assault and

sexual abuse while increasing recognition, support for and access to sexual assault services in Alberta.

Our Vision

An Alberta free from sexual violence.

Our Mission

To provide leadership, coordination, collaboration and a unified voice on issues of sexual abuse and sexual assault.

The Role of AASAS

The AASAS Member Agencies/Services are responsible for day-to-day, front line delivery of services within their local communities and

regional areas. As a provincial support organization, AASAS focuses its efforts in these key areas:

AWARENESS: AASAS works to increase public and government awareness of issues involving sexual abuse and

sexual assault and the impacts they have on all Albertans.

ACCESS: AASAS strives to ensure that all Albertans affected by sexual abuse and sexual assault have access to

healing and recovery programs, services and supports.

We believe anyone can be a victim of sexual abuse and sexual assault. We believe anyone affected by sexual abuse and sexual assault has the right to access effective, affordable, and timely services that are

distinct and specialized. We believe everyone has the capacity and resiliency to recover from sexual abuse and sexual assault. We believe victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault are not to blame and perpetrators must be held accountable. We believe society minimizes the impact of sexual abuse and sexual assault on individuals and that minimization has devastating

outcomes for survivors. We believe society minimizes the crime of sexual abuse and sexual assault, and this must change in order to effectively address and

prevent issues of violence. We believe services addressing sexual abuse and sexual assault need to be delivered in an inclusive, respectful, and equitable manner

regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability. We believe there is a need for increased recognition and support for existing and emerging sexual assault services in Alberta. We believe education and awareness initiatives need to be targeted at everyone. We believe prevention initiatives are not to be targeted to survivors or potential survivors but towards perpetrators and potential

perpetrators as well as those who can intervene. We believe that treatment is a form of prevention because healthy individuals and healthy communities break the cycle of abuse. We believe in the need for treatment and for greater access to treatment for perpetrators of sexual abuse and sexual assault.

PACE Sexual Assault Centre (Grande Prairie) Peace Country Sexual Assault Help Line: 1-877-377-3223 Business: 780-539-6692 www.pacecentre.ca Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton 24-Hour Line: 780-423-4121 Business: 780-423-4102 www.sace.ab.ca University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre Crisis Line: 780-492-9771 Business: 780-492-0172 http://uofa.ualberta.ca/current-students/sexual-assault-centre Saffron Centre Ltd. (Sherwood Park) Toll Free: 1-866-956-1099 Business: 780-449-0900 www.saffroncentre.com Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (Red Deer) Toll Free: 1-866-956-1099 Business: 403-340-1124 www.casasc.ca Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse Toll free: 1-877-237-5888 Business: 403-237-6905 www.calgarycasa.com

Waypoints Sexual Assault & Abuse Programs and Services (Fort McMurray) Crisis Line: 780-791-6708 Business: 780-743-4691 Ext. 231 or 232 www.fmmfcs.com Dragonfly Sexual Assault Services (Bonnyville) Business: 780-815-4456 www.thedragonflycentre.com Association of Communities Against Abuse (Stettler) Toll Free: 1-866-807-3558 Business: 403-742-3558 www.againstabuse.ca Lloydminster Sexual Assault & Information Centre Crisis Line: 306-825-8255 Business: 306-825-8255 www.lloydminstersexualassault.com Southeastern Alberta Sexual Assault Response Committee (Medicine Hat) Phoenix Safe House Crisis Line: 1-800-661-7949 Business: 403-548-2717 www.mhsarc.com Sexual Violence Action Committee (Lethbridge) YWCA Harbour House Crisis Line: 403-320-1881 Toll Free: 1-866-296-0447 Business Line: 403-381-3900 www.svaclethbridge.org

For all of us at AASAS, this year was bursting with proud moments.

2015 –16 AASAS’s highlights include five Alberta communities with new sexual assault response teams; an award winning multi-faceted

province-wide public awareness campaign; a team of facilitators trained and ready to coach Alberta’s professionals on how to respond to

disclosures; a 12 week on-line curriculum that will help therapists respond to the specialized needs of those affected by sexual assault

trauma; and counselling services across the province to help individuals recover from the effects of sexual assault and go on to lead

healthy and productive lives.

Perhaps one of our proudest moments however was when seven current and former AASAS leaders, who we like to refer to as “Alberta’s

Sexual Assault Centre Pioneers” were selected for the Government of Alberta’s Inspiration Awards in Family and Community Safety.

Forming the Association of Sexual Assault Centres in 1993, these seven pioneers developed a sexual violence sector that today is

sophisticated, standardized, and highly professionalized. They worked tirelessly to build inroads and relationships with policy makers

through the development of research, position papers, and a business plan for service delivery in the province. Thanks to their leadership

the issue of sexual violence came out from the shadows and into Alberta public policy. We are grateful to these seven women and are

honored that they are “one of us”.

Deb Tomlinson, Chief Executive Officer

Corinne Ofstie, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator

Barbara Hagen, Community Collaborative Response Coordinator

Katie Roberton, Community Development Associate

Lisa Oracheski

Board President

Debra Tomlinson, MSW RSW

Chief Executive Officer

Lisa Oracheski President

Bill Walker Vice-President

Thorna Lawrence Treasurer

Judy Hoad Secretary

Brad Cunningham Director

Marilyn Fleger Director

Sonia Wilson Director

Debra Tomlinson Chief Executive Officer

With support from Alberta Health, in September 2015, AASAS launched “I Believe

You” a multi-faceted province-wide public awareness campaign aimed at

educating Albertans about how to respond to a disclosure of sexual assault

(www.ibelieveyou.info). Three public service announcements showing the power

of believing aired on CTV; SHAW and Global as well as YouTube. Two radio

commercials were aired by Bell Media and CBC. Four posters were displayed in

bars, restaurants and gyms throughout Alberta.

Estimated social media reach of

#IBelieveYou was over one million!

Social media played a significant role in the success of the campaign. AASAS utilized

Thunderclap, a “crowd speaking platform’, which invites people to donate their social

networks to a cause they believe in. AASAS set a goal of 497 social networks to be

reached by the end of September. AASAS used the number 97 to represent the 97% of

sexual assaults that go unreported. The “I Believe You” campaign reached the

Thunderclap objective with 121% of the goal, and an overall social media reach of

517,769. In addition to this, according to Tweet Reach Snapshot, there was an estimated

social reach of over one million with the #IBelieveYou hashtag.

AASAS’s 12 membership agencies created “I Believe You”

partnerships with 23 post-secondary institutions within Alberta.

These schools received posters to display, and hosted booth days on

their respective campuses. Each booth offered a social media photo

booth for “I Believe You” selfies and provided stickers, temporary

tattoos, and “what to do next” cards so that students would be

informed on what they could do to make a positive change in a

survivor’s life.

Before and after the campaign, AASAS polled 1000 Albertans asking

them what they would say if a survivor disclosed sexual abuse to

them. Following the campaign, the number of Albertans that said

they would provide a positive response to a disclosure of sexual

assault doubled and the number who said they would say “I Believe

You” increased by four times!

The number of Albertans who

would say “I Believe You” increased

by four times!

Finally, the AASAS “I Believe You” campaign

was selected as a finalist for the 2016 North

American Sabre Awards – Superior

Achievement in Measurement and Evaluation.

AASAS was singled out from 300 campaigns

and 2000 entries across North America and

was up against competitors such as the

Michael J Fox Foundation and the American

Heart Foundation. And we won!

“I Believe You” campaign – winner of the 2016 North American Sabre

Awards!

First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training™

When survivors are able to muster the courage to disclose sexual assault to a helping professional, it is essential that the professional

is able to respond in a compassionate, effective and timely manner.

With a strategically placed question, a positive non-blaming approach and accurate information about available services and the law,

first responders can act as bridges for survivors to much needed sexual assault services that have the potential to foster healing and

access to justice.

With support from Alberta Health and Alberta Human Services, this year AASAS developed a Train the Facilitator Curriculum. In

October 2015, AASAS launched the new curriculum with a week-long intensive training led by four experienced AASAS mentors and

attended by 15 facilitators in training.

With additional support from Human Services, AASAS developed an

infrastructure to sustain and support the training program including AASAS

coordination and administration of all aspects of the program. In this fiscal

year, AASAS has already hosted 12 Trainings in communities such as Cold Lake,

Fort McMurray, Calgary, Edmonton, Camrose, Lloydminster, Brooks, Olds,

Lethbridge, Bonnyville, Medicine Hat and out of province in communities such

as Yellowknife, NWT and Lac La Ronge, SK. To register for training in your area,

go to www.aasas.ca.

“I am using the [First Responder Training] information to develop a sexual

abuse response protocol for the school division where I am

employed.” (Training Participant)

Hope and Healing: Sexual Assault Counselling in Alberta

With the support of Alberta Health, in December 2015, AASAS completed a three

year initiative to expand sexual assault counselling services across Alberta. From

Fort MacMurray in the north to Lethbridge in the south, Alberta’s sexual assault

services provided specialized counselling to over 2000 new clients per year.

Three quarters of these individuals were adults with the remaining being children

ages 17 and under. While the majority of counselling clients were women; 18%

were men and 24% were trans-identified individuals. Over 70% of counselling

clients identified having a mental health diagnosis and/or addictiion(s)

demonstrating how sexual assault is linked closely to these serious health

conditions. Outcome data collected showed

that 82% of adult clients and 72% of child

clients served during this period experienced

a reduction in trauma symptoms.

In January of 2016, Alberta Health provided funds for AASAS to continue the

expansion of sexual assault counselling in Alberta for another 39 month period.

Learning to Counsel Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence

With the support of Alberta Health, AASAS developed and piloted a new training curriculum.

Counselling Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence is a 12 week online integrative course designed for

Counsellors, Therapists, and other mental health practitioners who may wish to work with

survivors of sexual violence, or who may be already working with survivors and would like to more

deeply inform their counselling practice.

This course, taught by two seasoned professional therapists, draws on the most current theory and

focuses specifically on healing the unique trauma effects of those who have experienced sexual

violence. The feedback from the evaluation of the pilot was tremendously positive and AASAS looks

forward to offering this curriculum bi-annually on an on-going basis.

82% of clients served experienced a reduction in trauma symptoms.

“It was very validating, inspiring and

energizing to learn new concepts and

theories and to be able to use them

immediately with clients and see

results and get feedback. The

resources you provided were

invaluable, and the common

experience of learning in an

environment with other counsellors

in the field was great.” (Training

Participant)

Five Alberta Communities Launch New Sexual Assault Response

Teams

A sexual assault response team (SART) is made up of specially trained

multidisciplinary professionals who work together in a coordinated fashion to

provide a continuum of services to survivors of sexual assault. SART’s usually

include representation from nurses and doctors; police and RCMP; crown

prosecutors; victims services; sexual health professionals among a number of

other professional groups. Sexual assault response teams develop protocols

that require all survivors of sexual violence to be firstly believed and then

treated with dignity and respect. These same protocols ensure that survivors

are given all the information they require to make an informed decision about

reporting to police and are referred in a timely manner to the nearest

specialized service that is available to assist with their healing and recovery.

Until this year, there were four sexual assault response teams in Alberta;

Calgary; Edmonton; Lethbridge and Red Deer.

With the support of Status of Women Canada and Alberta Health, over the

past two years, AASAS has been working with the communities of Fort

McMurray; Grande Prairie; Lloydminster; Medicine Hat and Rocky Mountain

House and we are so proud to announce that we now have five new sexual

assault response teams – making a total of nine in Alberta!

Why are these sexual assault response teams so important? Because they

encourage survivors to come forward to get help and explore their options for

seeking justice and, the care and attention provided by sexual assault response

teams actually helps to reduce the effects of the post-traumatic stress that

survivors experience after an assault.

Congratulations to the many committed and passionate helping professionals

in these five Alberta communities who are working together for an Alberta free

from sexual violence.

Here in Alberta we are on the edge of transforming our community by changing the way we respond to sexual assault. If everyone jumps in and adds their voice we will create a powerful culture of believing and telling, and make our communities healthier and safer for everyone.

Social media continues to play a key role in bringing the issue of sexual assault out of the shadows and into the public consciousness and public policy. Join AASAS on social media and show your support for survivors of sexual assault!

AASAS is deeply grateful to the organizations and government agencies for their financial contributions. This funding supports the valuable

work that AASAS does in its efforts to increase awareness of issues of sexual abuse and sexual assault and the impacts they have on

Albertans, as well as striving to ensure all Albertans affected by sexual violence have access to healing and recovery programs, supports

and services.

Thank you for your generosity, for acknowledging AASAS as a provincial leader, and for recognizing the inherent value and need for

specialized sexual assault centres and services for survivors of this crime!

Follow us and join our conversations on Twitter - @aasasmembership

Post an encouraging “I Believe You” picture or quote on Instagram - @aasas_ab and remember to hashtag with #IBelieveYou

Keep up to date with the cultural transformation from “rape culture” to “I Believe You” culture by liking the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services Facebook Page